Terms of Service — Travel Africas

1. Overview & Acceptance

Welcome to Travel Africas ("Platform", "we", "us", or "our"), operated by Travel Africas LLC (trading as "TravelAfricas"). These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of travelafricas.com, connecting independent African tour operators ("Operators") with travelers worldwide ("Travelers").

By creating an account, browsing listings, submitting travel requests, or publishing tour packages, you agree to comply with and be bound by these terms.

2. Founding Operator Beta Agreement

During the Travel Africas Founding Operator Beta:

No Upfront Fee: Registration, profile creation, and tour publishing are 100% free of subscription fees for participating beta operators.
Verification Requirement: All operators must upload valid commercial business registration or tourism operating licenses and provide verifiable contact details before tours are approved for publication.
Platform Commission: The standard marketplace platform fee is 10% on confirmed bookings unless a customized beta promotion rate is explicitly agreed upon in writing.
Accurate Itineraries & Pricing: Operators agree to provide genuine, legally compliant itineraries, truthful inclusions/exclusions, and accurate pricing tiers.

3. Traveler Bookings & Inquiries

During the beta phase:

Travelers submit direct inquiries and custom trip requests through the marketplace interface.
Verified operators respond directly with customized quotations, itineraries, and booking terms.
Payment arrangements and deposit schedules are confirmed directly with the verified tour operator based on their published policy.

4. Cancellation & Refund Policy

Standard cancellation terms for tour packages on Travel Africas:

60+ Days Prior to Departure: Deposit refundable minus non-refundable third-party permits (such as mountain gorilla permits or national park concession fees).
30–59 Days Prior to Departure: 50% refund of total tour cost minus non-refundable permits.
Fewer Than 30 Days: Non-refundable due to advance lodge commitments and operational transport reservations.

Individual operators may specify custom cancellation terms within their tour listings, which will take precedence when clearly disclosed prior to booking.

5. Marketplace Role & Liability

Travel Africas serves as a technology platform connecting independent local tour operators with prospective travelers. Travel Africas does not own or operate tour vehicles, accommodations, or guide operations directly.

Each verified operator is an independent commercial entity responsible for compliance with local tourism legislation, passenger transport regulations, and guest safety protocols. Travelers are strongly advised to maintain comprehensive international travel, medical, and evacuation insurance for all African itineraries.

6. Corporate Information & Legal Inquiries

Travel Africas LLC (trading as "TravelAfricas") is registered in Delaware, United States, with a US mailing address at 169 Madison Avenue, Suite 15688, New York, NY 10016. TravelAfricas also maintains operational presence in Canada and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.